In September 2019, Amazon made waves by announcing its ambitious Climate Pledge, committing to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. It was seen as a bold move, positioning the e-commerce giant as a leader in sustainability. Yet, a recent report from the Stand.Earth Research Group, Ship It Zero, and Pacific Environment casts doubt on the company’s environmental progress, exposing a staggering 25% increase in CO2 emissions since the pledge’s launch.
This report brands Amazon’s green initiatives as “greenwashing,” revealing that despite its public commitments, the company’s carbon footprint continues to climb. Between 2019 and 2023, emissions from Amazon’s logistics network skyrocketed, particularly within air transport, which saw a 67% increase in emissions. Airfreight now accounts for more than 42% of the carbon emissions for every parcel delivered through Amazon’s U.S. system. The company’s heavy reliance on air transport and fossil fuel-powered delivery vans — whose emissions have surged 195% — are seen as major contributors to its rising carbon footprint.
The Cost of Speed: Air Freight and Carbon Emissions
The growing role of air transport in Amazon’s logistics network has been a key driver of emissions. Between 2019 and 2023, emissions from airfreight surged, contributing to the 5.84 million tonnes of CO2 from transporting goods in 2023. Airfreight was initially ramped up to counteract port disruptions during the pandemic, but remains a significant source of emissions as Amazon continues to prioritise speed over sustainability.
Despite introducing initiatives such as the deployment of 120,000 electric vans by 2030, these efforts are seen as insufficient. Even with this fleet, annual emissions growth would only decrease marginally, from 36% to 35%. Given its dominance in the U.S. e-commerce market, where it controls 38%, Amazon holds the market power — and responsibility — to make significant changes in its logistics network.
The most concerning area is Amazon’s aviation operations, which contributed 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 in 2024 alone. With 93 planes in operation, the environmental impact is profound. However, transparency around Amazon’s aviation emissions remains limited, as the company outsources much of its logistics to third-party carriers, making it difficult to assess the full environmental impact.
Lack of Transparency: An Ongoing Challenge
While Amazon’s competitors, such as UPS and FedEx, provide more detailed reporting on their environmental footprint, Amazon lags behind. Critics argue that Amazon’s limited transparency makes it difficult for stakeholders, including Logistics Service Providers (LSPs), to fully understand the environmental impact of their operations and make informed business decisions.
A pressing need exists for real-time data insights that can provide BCOs and LSPs with critical visibility into their supply chains. By leveraging technology that offers real-time monitoring of carbon emissions and logistics efficiency, businesses could counteract the impacts of climate-related disruptions and optimise their operations.
Such tools are essential for companies like Amazon, where fast-paced expansion demands greater oversight. For instance, despite Amazon’s recent pledge to deploy 100,000 electric vans by 2030, a report from Stand.Earth estimates the company will need 400,000 electric vehicles to fully decarbonise its logistics network at its current growth rate.
Moving Forward: The Path to Zero Emissions
As Amazon’s logistics operations continue to expand, the environmental toll is expected to increase. Despite Amazon’s public commitments to sustainability, its “Shipment Zero” initiative, which aimed to make 50% of shipments net-zero by 2030, has been quietly dropped, raising further concerns. Projections suggest that Amazon’s overall emissions will grow at an annual rate of 5.5% to 11.5% through 2030.
Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, an internal group, has also raised questions about the company’s claims regarding renewable energy achievements, further challenging its green credentials. The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), a UN-backed organisation, recently removed Amazon from its list of climate-conscious companies for missing deadlines related to emission reduction targets.
With Amazon holding such a significant share of the logistics market, its decisions have wide-reaching impacts. Critics argue that cutting reliance on air freight would be an obvious first step in reducing emissions. Joshua Archer, a senior campaigner at Stand.Earth, suggested, “If Amazon is serious about climate progress, stop flying so much.”
Without stronger commitments to decarbonisation and greater visibility into its operations, Amazon’s environmental promises risk being perceived as hollow. By embracing real-time data solutions, Amazon and its partners could gain the insights needed to reduce their carbon footprint and make the operational shifts necessary to achieve genuine sustainability.